"Transitioning into college can be an overwhelming experience, so we want to welcome students to campus but also give them a chance to settle in a little. We've shortened orientation activities by a whole day, hoping to give students more of a chance to just relax and get to know one another," she explained.

"This year's theme is Exploring New Frontiers, which ties into a lot of the new things happening at the university as well as welcoming our new students to the next phase of their life," Bottorff explained.

The residence halls will open on Thursday, August 22 at 2 pm for move-in, but students may also move in on Friday, August 23 when the rest of the orientation activities begin.

"We'll be ready for students to move into the residence halls on Thursday, but orientation activities will pick up with registration and matriculation on Friday, August 23," Bottorff said. "Matriculation will be held Friday night at 5:30 p.m. and is the first big activity of the weekend."

New student matriculation is a formal ceremony which is Ozarks' way of welcoming new students to campus. According to Bottorff, it's an important part of the transition to Ozarks.

"Matriculation is that formal introduction to campus. You sign your name into our rosters, and it's a mirror image of graduation. It's the official beginning of your life at Ozarks. It's actually an emotional time for students and parents as they begin their next phase with this tradition," she said.

Bottorff stressed the importance of new student orientation for freshmen and their families.

"I remember being a freshman here at Ozarks. Showing up that first weekend was really scary, but as I attended more events throughout orientation and met more people, I began to feel more comfortable. Not only do you learn more about Ozarks during that weekend, you meet people that make you feel at home," she said.

New students can expect orientation information packetes to be mailed out by the middle of July, but there are several ways for students to find out more information before then.

"Students can get more information online. We already have a schedule posted on the Ozarks website, along with some other information. We are also posting information to the Ozarks AR 2017 Facebook group," Bottorff said.

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University of the Ozarks is a private four-year, comprehensive university located in Clarksville, Arkansas.